The Transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi Infection to Man and Its Control

Vetores da doença de Chagas no Brasil

“…De fato, à medida que se foi acumulando conhecimento, percebeu-se que a distribuição dos triatomíneos, vetores ou potencialmente vetores da doença de Chagas, abrange uma amplíssima área, entre os 40 o de latitude norte e 45 o de latitude sul (Jörg 1957, Bonet 1972, Zeledón 1972, com a ocorrência registrada de infecção humana autóctone desde o sul dos Estados Unidos -onde tem sido reportados alguns poucos casos -até a Província de Chubut na Argentina (Marsden 1983, WHO 1991, Silveira 1999). Da mesma forma uma grande variedade de espécies de triatomíneos foi sendo conhecida, com maior ou menor importância na transmissão domiciliar da infecção/doença de Chagas.…”

Ecological aspects of the vectorial control of Chagas' disease in Brazil

“…Thousands of infected individuals are living today in the metropolitan areas of São Paulo, Caracas, Buenos Aires, Santiago, and even New York or Los Angeles, so increasing the risk of T. cruzi transfusional transmission. Passive transportation of triatomines is very common, but the colonization of urban spaces appears not to be as easy as in rural areas (Marsden, 1983). Nevertheless, significant colonies of T. dimidiata, T. sordida and T. infestans can be detected respectively in Guayaquil and Tegucigalpa, in Santa Cruz and in Cochabamba, showing that urban adaptation is possible (Dias, 1988).…”

“…Human CD begins with an apparent or inapparent acute phase that is more severe (even lethal) in young children. The chronic phase is the most important from the epidemiological point of view, when cardiac and/or digestive clinical forms can affect up to 30% of infected individuals in endemic areas (Marsden, 1983).…”

Current Status and Challenges of Chagas Disease Control Initiatives in the Americas

“…Among these transmission pathways, vector-born transmission accounts for more than 80% of all transmission to humans (1,2). T. cruzi is present in the feces of infected triatomine vectors, and enters the human body through bites, cuts or scratches on the skin and contact with mucous membranes.…”